Current Transmissions:

20130912

> Dan in Plureality 6

He throws up his hands and storms out of the room, returning to
the other side of the mirror. Dr. Hannah lingers for a moment,
looking at Daniel, looking at Them, then she joins him.

“You should calm down,” she says.

“Why? We're trying to cure his addiction and he can only answer
my question with a flippant deflection.”

“I don't think it was that at all,” Dr. Hannah says. “I
think it was the truth. As much as he understands it anyway.”

Dr. James stares hard at her. She returns his gaze, her eyes
soft. And says, “Feedback.”

In the room, Ms. Amita smooths her skirt. “I'm sorry if that
was uncomfortable, Daniel.”

*

When I was 24 I found a book called 'The Shaman's Body' that
talked about the deathwalk, a ritual during which the shaman has to
avoid being shot by his fellow warrior-priests. If the shaman is
confident, is impeccable in thought and action, he can walk directly
in front of the others, slowly and evenly, without being hit.

The meaning of the phrase 'the crow road' in the novel turned out
to be death. The crow road is the deathwalk.

*

“What's going on?” he asks, staring through the glass, his
voice soft. “It's all just stores, right? Just TV shows and games
and comics...” He looks back to Dr. Hannah. “It's not real, is
it?”

*

At the Hillside Music Festival, my friends and I camping,
pretending that every time we go down to the island where the bands
are playing we are entering Faerieland. Drawing cards from the Faerie
Oracle deck to see who our guides are for each trip. Gathered by the
picnic table beside the road leading to the gates, I offer each of
them the deck and watch their faces as they study the cards that they
pull. Watching them as the hit takes, feeling like a dealer.

*

Dr. Hannah squints slightly. “Oh. Oh, I see. I think I
understand now. He's not here to be cured of the addiction. He's here
so that it will spread.”